Recession, what recession?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....te-dinner-honour.html

[ummmm]

Can you explain your point?

[Canary42]

We're all in it together

[Gromit]

We are all in this together <burp>

[sp1814]

During every recession, there are Academy Awards ceremonies, Brits awards, BAFTAs, company Christmas parties, gadgets (eg. iPads this Friday) to buy, new cars being sold, house prices increase and countries (ie. the UK) will spend millions/billions celebrating a certain diamond jubilee and hosting a certain sporting event.

Basically, a recession doesn't mean that everything stops dead.

Imagine if the Camerons went over to Washington, and the President and First Lady took them to MacDonalds and then bowling.

THAT would be news - not a gala dinner.

[sandyRoe]

Is basketball so much different from bowling?
We are all in this together. But some of us are deeper in the quicksand than others.

[Seadragon]

It's too lavish and over the top, considering the recent deaths of six British soldiers and the antics of the loony American in Afghan, I think this Gala dinner is in pretty bad taste.

[ummmm]

I think it was arranged before those two events.

[DTCwordfan]

I think that the more appropriate question is what has gone on behind scenes that merits such an honour for DC.

Ok Obama couldnt stand Brown (the man has some taste) and canoodled up to the French big time. Ok, the Queen sprinkled some of her magic dust on the Obamas, but to me something else has gone on behind scenes, something that makes Obama realise just how close we are, perhaps something on the security front that brought home the message of our dependability. Or the French have royally stuffed up - and with Sarkozy on the way out...... Funny the Germans don't figure in the mix, the Italians - well with one Pantsdown Berlusconi are you surprised?

[Zeuhl]

A few people put on their glad rags and turn up for a dinner party. There would be minimal incremental spend here.

The venue: WH already at their disposal
The guests: delighted to be invited without payment
The entertainment: ditto
The suits and frocks: already owned or borrowed for free (as SamCam did)
The guard of honour and security: already at their disposal
The kitchen/waiting staff: ditto

A few thousand dollars on food and drink - No big deal

If the issue is 'perceptions' then Recession is the time to renew confidence by displays of success and quality

And glamour brightens people's lives anyway.
Let's remember that Hollywood's Golden Era was the 1930s

[DTCwordfan]

At the same time, there was the sackcloth state dinner for Ex Pres Clinton and Ed Milliband..which would have been more upsome folks street, esp the Daily Wail

http://support.brethr...hotos/large_19967.jpg

[naomi24]

This is silly. So what are you saying, AOG? That they should have eaten at McDonalds?